How Mount Polley disaster’s toxic impact continues to filter through B.C. waters, 10 years later

Former Xatsull First Nation chief Bev Sellars vividly remembers the emergency meeting held after the devastating Mount Polley Mine disaster in 2014. The elders were in tears as they thought of the fish swimming through the toxic waste that had inundated their territorial waters. Sellars still thinks about the disaster often, noting that there are physical changes that are still visible and ongoing in the affected areas.

The catastrophic collapse of a tailings dam at the copper and gold mine sent approximately 25 million cubic metres of poisoned water surging into waterways such as Polley and Quesnel lakes on August 4, 2014. The environmental impact of the disaster is still being felt today, with scientists expressing concerns about toxic particles swirling in Quesnel Lake’s water a decade later. The legal ramifications of the disaster are also unfolding, with 15 federal Fisheries Act charges recently laid against Imperial Metals Corp. and two other firms.

One of the key researchers studying the effects of the disaster, aquatic eco-toxicologist Greg Pyle, found elevated metal accumulation and toxicity in freshwater invertebrates near the spill site. These tiny creatures form the basis of the aquatic food chain, indicating that the material from the disaster was potentially toxic to the creatures for years following the breach. Pyle noted that copper, in particular, is a powerful neurotoxicant to fish and other aquatic animals.

Ellen Petticrew, a geography professor, and Phil Owens, an environmental science professor, conducted research on the movement of contaminated material in Quesnel Lake following the disaster. They found that fine particles of sediment contaminated with copper and other metals remained in suspension for months and continued to be stirred up due to the lake’s natural turnover. This movement of contaminated sediment runs counter to what the mining company and consultants initially believed, showing that the environmental impact is still ongoing.

Marita Boxrud, owner of Plato Island Resort located upstream from the tailings breach, noted that fishing in Quesnel Lake remains robust, but the effects of the spill are still visible. Craig Orr, a conservation adviser, emphasized the importance of the Quesnel river system to salmon runs through to the Fraser River and expressed concern about the long-term impacts of the disaster on wild salmon populations.

Sellars, who was chief of the Xatsull First Nation at the time of the disaster, continues to advocate for stricter regulations and oversight in the mining industry. She believes that the provincial government needs to consider the cumulative effects of individual mining projects on the environment and prioritize sustainability for the sake of future generations. The Mount Polley mine breach serves as a stark reminder of the importance of balancing economic development with environmental protection.